Dual-language receipts, soon in the UAE

The Ministry of Economy has announced that by 2018, all shops and retailers will have to add the Arabic language to all receipts. The ministry implemented the initiative after receiving complaints from consumers who could not understand what was included in their receipts.

According to the Arabic daily Al Ittihad, shops have until the end of the year to comply with the rule before it becomes mandatory next year. According to media reports, Hashim Al Nuaimi, Director of the Consumer Protection Division, explained that even though shops and restaurants employed people from various nationalities, Arabic speaking customers claimed to have been misled by employees who spoke English with a strong, distinct accent that was difficult to understand.